Illuminated sign.



PATENTED DEC. 12, 1905.

L. R. PAIGE.

ILLUMINATED $IGN- APPLIUATION FILED NOV. 14, 1903.

mTc esses:

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LUCIUS R. PAIGE, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, Y ASSIGNOR TO EUGENE A. BOFINGER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

ILLUMINATED SIGN.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 12, 1905.

Application filed November 14:, 1903. Serial No. 131,251.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, LUCIUS R. PAIGE, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Worcester, in the county of Worcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Illuminated Sign, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that class of signs in which electric lamps or other lights are mounted within the sign for illuminating the sign at night.

The especial object of this invention is to provide a completely closed construction which is adapted to provide an illuminated display without the use of unprotected perforations or holes opening into the inside of the construction.

To these ends this invention consists of the illuminated sign and of the combinations of parts therein, as hereinafter described, and more particularly pointed out in the claims at the end of this specification.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view, partly broken away, of sufficient parts of an illuminated sign to show the application of my invention thereto. Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view of part of a sign-front, showing a difierent style of character thereon; and Fig. 3 is a similar view showing a part of a sign-front on which the use of raised characters is dispensed with.

In that class of signs to which this invention relates the letters or characters of the sign are usually outlined by perforations or holes which open through the sign-front. In these signs the letters or characters displayed at night are outlined by a number of dots or points of light. In a sign constructed according to my invention I have provided a construction in which the characters or letters displayed are outlined or shown in full by uninterrupted lines or lighted surfaces, while at the same time I provide a construction which entirely avoids the use of perforated or other unprotected openings leading into the inside of the sign. I accomplish these objects by using a sign-front of translucent fabric which is of a tough flexible nature and which will permit a comparatively unobstructed passage of light therethrough, ex-

' cept portions thereof which are coated or painted with opaque pigment. The particular fabric which I have employed in actual practice comprises wire-cloth or wire screenwork having its meshes filled with a translucent gelatinous substance-such, for example, as obtained from the residuum of boiled linseed-oils-that is to say, I employ for a sign-front in a sign constructed according to my invention a fabric which consists, essentially, of wire cloth or netting inclosed within or coated with a translucent gelatinous substance.

Referring to the drawings and in detail, the sign-box 10 may consist of an ordinary open-front wooden casing of the desired shape or outline of the sign. Mounted within the sign-box 10 are one or more electric lamps L.

The sign-front F is of translucent flexible fabric of the character described and consists of wire-netting having its meshes filled with a gelatinous substance. The sign-front is coated on one or both sides with an opaque pigment which will render all parts of the sign-front opaque except the portions thereof within the outlines of the letters or characters to be displayed. The pigment which I have employed with the best success for painting or coating sign-fronts according to this invention is prepared from shellac-gum, alcohol, and dry lampblack. When an ornamental effect is desired, the front of the sign may be sanded, or before the paint on the sign-front is driedit may be smalted or may have the ordinary diamond smalt sprinkled thereon, so that the same will ad- 7 here to the si n-front. outlining the c aracters or letters to be displayed I preferably fasten raised letters or characters R. These raised letters or characters may be made of wood in the ordinary Within the spaces manner and may be fastened on the signfront by the ordinary wire staples 12, as

shown in Fig. 1. In Fi 1 I have illustrated the raised characters or letters of the block of straight-sided form, although, as illustrated stead of using guards or reflectors for the purpose of preventing direct rays of light from passing through the sign-front I have found that the direct light of the lamps can be cut off and the light for the sign-face sufficiently diffused by interposing a screen S of Lonsdale cambric or other thin textile fabric between the lamps and the sign-front.

In a completed sign constructed according to my invention it will be seen that I have provided a completely-closed or boxed-in construction in which no sheet metal or other corrosive material is employed, and inasmuch as the sign front is formed of very tough non-frangible material I have pro vided a construction which is very durable.

I am aware that numerous changes may be made in practicing my invention by those who are skilled in the art without departing from the scope thereof as expressed in the claims. I do not wish, therefore, to be limited ,to the sign I have herein shown and described, but

What I do claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. As an article of manufacture, an illuminated sign comprising a sign-box having a light therein, and a sign-front of translucent fabric with an opaque coating around the characters or letters to be displayed, said letters or characters having opaque bodies or center lines.

2. As an article of manufacture, an illuminated sign comprising a sign-box having a light therein, and a sign-front of translucent fabric with an opaque coating thereon around the characters or letters to be displayed, and raised characters within the outlines of the lettering on the sign-front.

3. As an article of manufacture, an illuminated sign comprising a sign-box having a light therein, and a sign front of translucent fabric painted with an opaque pigment of shellac alcohol and lampblack and smalted over the entire surface except within the out lines of the characters or letters to be displayed, and raised wooden characters fastened by staples within the outlines of the letters or characters displayed.

4. A sign comprising an opaque body formed as a letter or othercharacter, a foraminous sheet to which said body is attached, said sheet being of greater area than the body, and opaque filling material applied to the foraminous sheet and presenting edges which are substantially parallel with the edges of the body. and are separated therefrom by light-emitting crevices forming askeleton letter or character.

5. A sign comprising an opaque body formed as a letter or other character, an opaque filling presenting edges which are substantially parallel with the edges of the body and are separated therefrom by light-emitting crevices forming a skeleton letter or character, and connecting members attached both to the body and filling and extending across the said crevices, said members being formed to maintain the body and filling in their proper relative positions without obstructing the passage of light through the said crevices.

6. In an illuminated sign, the combination with an opaque shield provided with apertures in the shape of sign characters; of opaque sign characters correspondin in form with, and smaller in dimensions t an, said apertures within which they are located respectively with free space on all sides between the edges of said opaque characters and the edges of said apertures; and means for transmitting light through said free spaces.

7 In an illuminated sign, the combination with an opaque shield provided with apertures in the shape .of sign characters; of opaque sign characters corresponding in form with, and smaller in dimensions than, said apertures within which they are located respectively with free space on all sides between the edges of said opaque characters and the edges of said apertures; a netting extending across and exposed through said free spaces; and means for transmitting light throu h the exposed portions of said netting.

8. In an illuminated sign, the combination with a frame; of a sheet of netting mounted upon said frame; an opaque shield adjacent to said netting provided with apertures in the shape of sign characters; opaque sign characters corresponding in form with, and smaller in dimensions than, said apertures within which they are respectively mounted upon said netting with free space on all sides between the edges of said opaque characters and the edges of said apertures through which free spaces said netting is exposed; and means for transmitting light through the exposed portions of the netting.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

LUCIUS R. PAIGE.

Witnesses:

LoUIs W. SOUTHGATE, PHILIP W. SOUTHGATE. 

